JON CARDINELLI takes a look at an overall South African Form XV after 11 rounds of Super Rugby.
Every week, SARugbymag.co.za has selected a Form XV based on performances in the previous round of Super Rugby. After the first seven rounds, we posted a Form XV based on performances across the tournament. No overseas-based players were considered (although several should play key roles for the Springboks later this year).
At that stage of the competition, the Stormers were riding high at the top of the South African group with a record of six wins and no losses. As many as eight Stormers players featured in an overall Form XV based on performances in the first seven rounds of the competition (see below).
Since then, the Stormers have lost four matches in a row, and fewer players have cracked the nod for the Team of the Week. Meanwhile, the Lions and Sharks have made up a lot of ground, with a number of their players in form.
Andries Coetzee (three picks) is closing the gap between himself and SP Marais (five) at fullback. Sharks centre Lukhanyo Am is just one pick behind Stormers No 13 EW Viljoen, Lions lock Andries Ferreira is one behind Stormers counterpart Eben Etzebeth, and Lions hooker Malcolm Marx is one behind Stormers No 2 Bongi Mbonambi.
Sharks youngster Curwin Bosch has featured at flyhalf four times. He may be overtaken by Kings No 10 Lionel Cronjé (three picks), though, in the coming weeks. Bosch has been called up to the SA U20 side and will miss the Sharks' next few matches.
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Flank Chris Cloete (five picks) has been one of the most consistent features in the Team of the Week. He's had some stiff competition from Jaco Kriel, though, another top performer with four picks.
Ross Cronjé has played some good rugby since being promoted to the starting lineup. Yet the fact that Cronjé tops the scrumhalf list in this context (with only three picks) shows how inconsistent the South African No 9s have been this season. South Africa's looshead props have also blown hot and cold.
OVERALL FORM XV (after 11 rounds)
15. SP Marais (Stormers, five picks)
14. Kobus van Wyk (Sharks, three picks)
13. EW Viljoen (Stormers, five picks)
12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg/Harold Vorster (Lions, three picks)
11. Raymond Rhule/Courtnall Skosan (Cheetahs/Lions – four picks)
10. Curwin Bosch (Sharks, four picks)
9. Ross Cronjé (Lions three picks)
8. Warren Whiteley (Lions, five picks)
7. Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks, four picks)
6. Chris Cloete (Kings, five picks)
5. Franco Mostert (Lions, five picks)
4. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers, five picks)
3. Ruan Dreyer (Lions, four picks)
2. Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers, five picks)
1. JC Janse van Rensburg/Thomas du Toit (Stormers/Sharks, two picks)
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OVERALL FORM XV (after seven rounds)
15. SP Marais (Stormers, five picks)
14. Kobus van Wyk (Sharks, three picks)
13. EW Viljoen (Stormers, four picks)
12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions, three picks)
11. Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs, three picks)
10. Curwin Bosch (Sharks, three picks)
9. Cobus Reinach (Sharks, two picks)
8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers)/Warren Whiteley (Lions,three picks)
7. Siya Kolisi (Stormers, three picks)
6. Chris Cloete (Kings)/Jaco Kriel (Lions, three picks)
5. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers, four picks)
4. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers, five picks)
3. Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks, three picks)
2. Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers, five picks)
1. JC Janse van Rensburg (Stormers, two picks)
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
